President Bush Helping Hillary Clinton Become Secretary of State

President Bush today signed S.J. Res 46 today which rolls back the Secretary of State's salary to the level on January 1, 2007. This is the latest "Saxbe Fix" which, in effect, will allow Hillary Clinton to become Secretary of State by avoiding conflict with the Emoluments Clause in Article One of the Constitution, which reads: "No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office."

While Hillary was in the Senate, the body gave the Cabinet a raise… so in order for her to now move to Foggy Bottom they've dropped her salary back to what it was before she took office. The Senate will now have to do this all over again… for Sen. Ken Salazar who is President-elect Obama's pick for Secretary of the Interior.

Editor's note: Cabinet level one salaries right now are $191,300 The current salary (2008) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $169,300 per year.